Cog

– I need to take a holiday.
– We all need a holiday at some time or other. A chance to relax and recuperate. Visit new and exotic lands. Sample the local cuisine.
– I mean I actually need to take a holiday, in that it's getting towards the end of the financial year, and, for reasons beyond my ken, I have to take my remaining holiday entitlement before the end of the month.
– Of course. And how many days have you got left?
– Goodness knows. Weeks and weeks. I am allowed to carry some over to next year, but you don't want to carry too much over as it just accumulates.
– Is that bad?
– It will be when I have an even worse problem this time next year.
– You clearly spend too much time at work. Try to tear yourself away more often. Enjoy the spring sunshine while it lasts.
– It's sometimes tricky finding an appropriate time to be away: there is always so much work to be done, meetings to go to, slides to write...
– I know it often seems you are essential to the running of the company, but you have to realise that you are merely the smallest of cogs in a massive machine. It is always surprising to find out how little we are missed when we are away.
– That's not very reassuring.
– True. But it's something to be thinking about while you're enjoying your holiday.
– It might stop me enjoying the holiday.
– You could always ensure you're still replying to emails while you're away: just so they don't forget you.